For an insider’s take on what is really happening at the continent’s many refugee camps, read Natalia’s memories from her time volunteering at Idomeni in Greece, on the border of Macedonia. She was there during the period that Macedonia closed their borders, leaving Idomeni to cope with 15,000 refugees. Natalia tells us what the press didn’t at the time – the moments of courage and kindness and compassion.

Her story reminds us all that refugees are our fellow humans, running from danger. They deserve our courage, kindness and compassion – something Natalia has in spades.

She appeared in this week’s Fabulous magazine. If you’d like to share a similar story, please get in touch today.

It’s me! Sometimes I do like to tell chapters of my own life too… and here I am in Bella sharing the not at all embarrassing story of the office Christmas party snog that led to a marriage… Nine years later and I can report that our office Christmas party kiss that turned into a relationship that turned into a marriage is going very well indeed. Hurrah for booze and Dutch courage!

We’re in full on Christmas mode at Phoenix Towers at the mo, so if you have a Christmassy story we’d love to hear it! Message me today and we’ll see what we can do.

Well, this is a strange week in a strange year in a strange new world. Trump has become President of the USA, the UK voted for Brexit, numerous wonderful icons have passed away in what seems to be a devastating year for the planet. Today we awoke to the news that the talented and poetic Leonard Cohen passed away. His songs have filled my home with warmth on many an occasion and I’m devastated to hear of his loss, so soon after his most recent, incredible album.

So what next for the world? Trump doesn’t believe in climate change. I worry for our planet, for the people and animals who live in it. I guess we just keep our heads down, keep doing what we do and hope that there is enough beauty, kindness and wonder left in the world to keep it spinning.

This is the story all about how a little girl called Matilda found her way into the world and changed the lives of everyone who was lucky enough to know and love her. Mum Leanne had three children already and was so sure she didn’t want any more that she was sterilised. Years later, Leanne remarried and her new hubby didn’t have kids of his own. Could Leanne have her sterilisation reversed? Luckily, yes, and not only do the happy couple now have Matilda, but they have another baby on the way too!

Leanne had seen me post lots of my stories for the Down’s syndrome community on Facebook and had always wanted to tell her own. I was so pleased when she got in touch and told me her amazing story – it was an honour to write about Matilda, the little champion.

In this week’s Bella magazine. Please get in touch if you’ve got an amazing family story you’d like to share!